Tauranga boat race canned due to spiralling costs

The Hydro Thunder race has been moved to Auckland instead of Tauranga. Photo/File

Spiralling costs have forced a boat race scheduled to be held in Tauranga next month to be moved to Auckland.

The Grand Prix Hydroplanes Hydro Thunder event was due to be held in Tauranga Harbour off The Strand on March 4 and 5 but the huge cost of organising this year's race has forced it elsewhere.

Organiser Denise Preece said hydroplane events had been held in the same spot in 2010 and again three years ago and drew large crowds.

Each time organisers have to arrange to have the boats moored in the harbour removed by their owners or have them shifted and berthed in the marina for the duration of the event.

Ms Preece said in 2010 it cost them $8000 to do so, at the last event three years ago it cost $17,000 but this year the cost had leapt up to $24,500 which made running the free community event in Tauranga unviable.

"It's a great spot. We're not happy about this at all," she said. "It's really disappointing. There were so many people who wanted the event there."

Despite this year's headaches Ms Preece said the NZGP Hydroplanes Drivers Club hoped to bring events back to Tauranga, including an international race next year.

Tauranga City Council strategic and city events acting manager Jenna Quay said the council worked with the club in regard to activities based on land.

"They had been working with Bay of Plenty Regional Council to move the moorings along the waterfront and store these boats at the Marina. The costs associated with this were more than they had originally anticipated.

"Tauranga City Council will work with the event organisers to look to assist them with sourcing additional funding or sponsorship to host their event in Tauranga in the future. It would be a great event to stage on the Tauranga waterfront in the future."

Harbourmaster Peter Buell said the only fee charged by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council was a $115 application fee.